A lot has been reported in the press recently regarding the bingo industry struggling as a consequence of the anti smoking law in Britain. Things have grown so bad that in Scotland the Bingo industry has called for huge tax cuts to assist in keeping the industry from going bankrupt. But does the web variation of this traditional game provide a lifeline, or might it in no way compare to its bricks and mortar relative?

Bingo has been an ancient game historically played by the "blue haired" generation. In any case the game lately had seen a recent increase in acceptance with younger people opting to hit the bingo halls rather than the clubs on a Friday night. This is all about to be destroyed with the introduction of the smoking ban throughout United Kingdom.

No longer will players be able to puff on cigarettes whilst marking off their numbers. From the summer of ‘07 every public place will no longer be allowed to permit cigarettes in their locations and this includes Bingo parlours, which are possibly the most common locations where people enjoy smoking.

The results of the anti smoking law can already be seen in Scotland where cigarettes are already prohibited in the bingo parlors. Profits have dropped and the industry is beyond a doubt struggling for its life. But where did the players go? Of course they haven’t deserted this age old game?

The answer is on the internet. Players realise that they can bet on bingo from their computer whilst enjoying a beer and smoke and in the end, enjoy monstrous prizes. This is a recent phenomenon and has happened just about perfectly with the ban on cigarettes.

Of course wagering on on the net could never replace the social part of going down to the bingo parlor, but for a group of people the law has left a number of bingo enthusiasts with no alternative.